Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how on earth Katy Perry made it?

96 replies

witchofzog · 02/03/2017 16:19

She is truly crap. I saw something on tv recently where she was live and it was shocking how bad she actually was. I know there are other who are like her and who still made it but I can't find anything redeeming about her. Even with auto tune she still sounds bad. Or maybe I am just a bitch Confused Is anyone else as baffled as me?

OP posts:
TheFirstMrsDV · 02/03/2017 18:26

FGS she is a pop star.
Its more than the music and singing ability. Its about the package and people like the package.
There is nothing new in that. Its been going on since the 50s.

I hate music snobbery.
I don't listen to boy bands and girl bands and I don't like much pop stuff but its not FOR me. Its for people who want that stuff and good for them.

Music changes lives ,it uplifts, it supports and it makes people happy.
We don't get to dictate what other people like.

PickledCauliflower · 02/03/2017 18:30

I think all current music (if we can call it that) is pretty rubbish. I am old though, so maybe that is why I think this way :)
If I hear Rihanna singing through that electronic voice thing - I will flee. It's usually in a shop or somewhere (I didn't know it was Rihanna until somebody pointed it out to me).
I'm not sure what Katy Perry sings, but I bet I won't like it.

Everyone (nearly everyone) I know loves Adele. I can't stand her music - she seems very shouty to me.

I like melodic voices like Karen Carpenter and Olivia Newton John 😳

January87 · 02/03/2017 18:32

She's not too far away from a breakdown similar to Britney in 2007 if recent reports are to be believed.

PickledCauliflower · 02/03/2017 18:36

There is not much creativity going on now with current pop music.
I don't think it's snobbery to recognise that most of it is manufactured rubbish. Voice decoding machines and dance routines etc.

I just feel a bit sad about it really. When I was a teenager in the late 70s / early 80s there was so much going music wise - for all tastes.

PickledCauliflower · 02/03/2017 18:38

And a bit of instrument playing wouldn't go amiss.

Does anyone in current pop etc, play any instruments now?

TheFirstMrsDV · 02/03/2017 18:38

Olivia Newton John?
Seriously. She was just as bland, just as manufactured and just as managed as any modern pop singer.

greenworm · 02/03/2017 18:38

I agree when I've heard her live (as in recorded live, not in person live) I've thought she sounded pretty crap. But at least others here have heard her sing well live, so I guess she's just not consistent. Plus her songs are really difficult to sing live I imagine, something like 'firework' is all high sustained belt notes, she doesn't make it easy for herself by picking those songs.

ephemeralfairy · 02/03/2017 18:39

I like her. Being a pop star isn't just about a voice. It's about stage presence, charisma etc etc.
Kylie, Madonna, Britney...none of them are fantastic singers. All are pop superstars. I'd far rather listen to them than Adele or warblers like Mariah Carey.

I mean occasionally you get someone who has the voice AND the stage presence AND the character AND the musicality and then they're just stratospheric. (Beyonce, Lady GaGa, Prince, George Michael etc etc)

AnyFucker · 02/03/2017 18:41

Olivia Newton John ? Confused

RubyRoseViolet · 02/03/2017 18:42

Blimey, I couldn't disagree more! I've seen her live and have watched that documentary film of her. She is fantastic. A really good, witty songwriter as well. There are so many other artists that I think this about but not her. I think she's brilliant.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 02/03/2017 18:43

I'd add Justin Timberlake to that list too ephemeral

CheersMedea · 02/03/2017 18:45

I'll tell you who is a shit singer. Cheryl Tweedy-Cole-Fernandez-Versini-Thingy.

Anyone remember Pop Stars or whatever it was called when Girls Aloud was created? That girl Javine had the best voice by a mile but didn't win "the public vote".

It was absolutely disgraceful that she was the loser comparing her voice to the others

PickledCauliflower · 02/03/2017 18:46

I saw Olivia Newton John live in the early 80s. She had the most beautiful voice (I know most folk will think she's naff). No special effects or dance routines to distract from the music - she sounded wonderful.
I also had the pleasure of hearing Johnny Mathis live back then too - a beautiful voice without the need for any gimmicks.

ephemeralfairy · 02/03/2017 18:48

I'd add Justin Timberlake to that list too ephemeral

Oh god yes. I love him. And Michael Jackson.

ForalltheSaints · 02/03/2017 18:48

A song about lesbianism or being bi-curious and an above average size chest! To answer the original question.

littlefrog3 · 02/03/2017 18:49

It's nothing to do with music snobbery; Katy Perry's live singing is awful. Truly painful to listen to. At least Adele can sing in bloody tune!

And isn't turning your nose up at the 'bland' Olivia Newton John music snobbery too? Hmm At least she can sing too. Yeah Britney and Madonna and Rihanna aren't great live, but they all sound OK.

Katy Perry is the worst live singer I have ever heard, EVER. Last time I heard her, she sounded like she was dying.

throughgrittedteeth · 02/03/2017 18:53

I've seen her live and her voice was flawless. I thought much like you though, that she was a bit average, especially after watching her on telly, but she surprised me by being properly good.

TheFirstMrsDV · 02/03/2017 18:53

I am not turning my nose up at Olivia Newton John.
Just pointing out that she is no different from the 'crap' singers today.
Pop music is bland. ONJ is bland. Its a descriptor in the way that 'punk is raw' and 'soul is slick'

Original poster
witchofzog · 02/03/2017 19:00

I am definitely not a music snob. I strongly believe music exists to strike a chord in people or to evoke emotion /a reaction whether that be sadness, happiness, wanting to dance around like a crazy person etc . That music could be Britney or Megadeth. Each to their own. I just dont think KP has a good voice when she is live. I had a look at the Pearl lyrics and they were good though so as some have said, maybe she is better as a song writer or overall performance artist

OP posts:
PickledCauliflower · 02/03/2017 19:00

Olivia Newton can sing without voice modification tools - even if her music is a bit naff to most of today's listeners.
She obviously had a good agent to get her the role in Grease (which was hoped OTT) but she was a respected singer before that.

I am totally out of touch with today's music. I just see the costumes, gyratimgs dancers and I am put off. I can't be doing with shouty vocals either and voice modifiyers.

I am too old for this now 😳

PickledCauliflower · 02/03/2017 19:01

Hyped - not hoped :)

PickledCauliflower · 02/03/2017 19:02

Gyrating!
I'll put my specs on 🤓🤓🤓🤓

RubbishMantra · 02/03/2017 19:12

I dunno, I quite like version of E.T....

My first thought was that OP was Taylor Swift. Grin

MissDreamGirl · 02/03/2017 19:19

I love Katy Perry and she's written lots of very catch songs (maybe not Kissed a Girl) - and I like that she's so colourful and a bit silly. I've heard she's terrible at doing live TV, but much better at doing proper live shows

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 02/03/2017 19:25

She sold her soul to the devil. Her words not mine.
The silly girl.

Swipe left for the next trending thread